Fat AND Phat!

Men deal with a lot of social pressures regarding body image just as girls do, and never is this more stressful than in high school. We grow up with the idea that men are supposed to be big and strong, they’re supposed to be able to kick a door down and sweep a women off her feet and carry her home with no effort, that they want to be these big, burly manly men that make girls swoon with a passing glance. However, in reality, when we’re teenagers, we’re more like the teenage kids in practically every modern family comedy, like Steve from American Dad or Bobby Hill from King of the Hill.

What makes it worse for guys than gals is that guys are expected to not care about their body image, but they totally do, so they’re never allowed to release these feelings when they’re teenagers. It’s not “manly* to talk about one’s feelings, and it’s not “manly” to put effort into anything having to do with one’s own body image. So many of us go through this phase where we have acne, crappy hair, and are ridiculously scrawny and we won’t do anything about it because we feel that would be effeminate. Then we look at ourselves in the mirror and realize our “manly” selves look like scrawny teenage bums, and we don’t know what to do.

Then there’s porn, which in recent times has been giving guys unrealistic expectations as to how big their penis should be.

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FluffyLion in /r/sex on how males suffer the same body image insecurities, especially during the teen years, and most importantly, not being able to talk about it.

And then there was this one, two of the best quotes that perfectly sum up how I feel, being a man.

(via sorryimsixyearslate)

(via beutifulmagazine)

My fat body is far too valuable to be treated like a car whose worth is lowered because of some wear and tear. It’s far too astounding to be a metaphor or a political statement. It’s far too complicated to run on the same formula used to fuel a lawn mower. It is far too profound to be reduced to a ratio of weight and height. And it is far too amazing to be judged by anyone.

My fat body is not a representation of my failures, sins, or mistakes. My fat body is not an indication of my level of health or fitness. My fat body is not up for public discussion, debate or judgment. My fat body is not a signal that I need help or input to make decisions about my health or life. My fat body is the constant companion that helps me do every single thing that I do every second of every day and it deserves respect and admiration.

If you are incapable of appreciating my body and treating it with respect and admiration that is your deficiency not mine; work on it or not, but I do not care. Nor am I interested in hearing your thoughts on the matter so, if you want to be around me, you are 100% responsible for doing whatever it takes to keep those thoughts to yourself. If you are incapable of doing that I will stop spending time with you – I spend my time with people who can treat me appropriately.

I will wield my beautiful fat body like a weapon. I will love it, I will care for it, I will move it, I will show it in public, I will viciously defend my body against anyone who seeks to classify it as anything but amazing. You’ve been warned – back the fuck off.

—Ragen Chastain: Back Off My Fat Body (via bodyacceptanceorbust)

(via lifeasa-fatgirl)